Skidmore College - Scope Magazine Spring 2019

25 SKIDMORE COLLEGE Food. It fuels us, brings us together with friends and family and keeps us healthy. But without food, “we struggle,” says Ginger Zielinskie ’00, president and CEO of Benefits Data Trust (BDT), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that uses private-sector strategies to help tens of thousands of individuals access public benefits. That innovative approach is what caught Zielinskie’s attention over 13 years ago. The Skidmore business major and sociology minor had always been drawn to service but was also in love with efficiency. Enter BDT. The organization uses data and technology to design proactive solutions that connect people in need to essential benefits and services such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In addition to de- veloping solutions, they also provide direct service, conduct research and partner with others to enact policy and process change. For Zielinskie, “preventing hunger is a moral imperative.” But she’s quick to point out that there’s also a strong economic case for helping vulnerable Americans, and it all comes down to the data. BDT found that access to SNAP significantly improves low-income seniors’ chance of living independently and avoiding hospitalizations while reducing Medicare and Medicaid costs. Ultimately, targeted SNAP outreach and enrollment assistance reduces annual health-care costs by more than $2,100 per senior. It’s just one example of how investing in anti- hunger programs is an “upstream investment” for seniors, children and families, Zielinskie says. “It’s important that we continue to ask, ‘How do we make the right fundamental investments so that people can reach their full potential?’ ” she says. Zielinskie credits her Skidmore education for helping her think critically. “From freshman year, Skidmore taught me to build connections and to really think about the interconnectedness of it all.” That holistic approach informs her perspective today. “Hunger does not operate in a vacuum— and it can’t be solved in one. In order to truly alleviate hunger in this country, individuals and families need to be served comprehensively and the systems that serve themmust become integrated,” she says. And lest you think data, systems and policy are unlikely companions of creative thought, Zielinskie disagrees. “They absolutely mix,” she says. “At BDT, we spend a lot of time talking about how we can foster curiosity. Data provides this amazing resource to ask the right questions. The willingness to make and explore connec- tions can open a whole new way of thinking about a stubborn problem like hunger. We need new ways to tackle it because it’s something we’re still faced with.” Thanks to Zielinskie’s leadership and ability to see the big picture, The Rockefeller Foundation and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative recently an- nounced that BDT was selected to receive a $1 million grant via the Com- munities Thrive Challenge, a $10 million effort to expand economic oppor- tunity for low-income and financially insecure people and communities across the country. BDT was one of only 10 grantees selected because of its demonstrated success and potential for future impact. Tackling poverty and food insecurity on a daily basis comes with major successes, like the grant, as well as ongoing challenges, but at the end of the day, it inspires Zielinskie. “This is a dynamic time to celebrate the value of food. We’re seeing a shift to a ‘food is health’ paradigm and that’s exciting. But we also need to challenge our collective conscientiousness. We can’t just think about what the next farm-to-table restaurant is going to be, we have to consider how we can invite everyone to that table. When the harvest is open to everyone, it’s all the more plentiful.” — Sara Miga Hungry for change How Ginger Zielinskie ’00 tackles food insecurity and poverty through critical thinking and creative solutions Marco Calderon “Preventing hunger is a moral imperative.”